By Lucky Isibor
Ahead the September 21 Edo State governorship election, the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin, His Lordship, Archbishop Augustine Obiora Akubeze has urged the candidates of all the participating political parties to reject intimidation in the election and seek peace.
Akubeze made the call while declaring open Civil Society Interactive Session with Political Parties and Candidates Ahead Edo 2024 Governorship Candidates organised by African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) with support from the Rule of Law and Anti-corruption programme.
The Archbishop Akubeze who was represented by Rev. Fr. Benedict Onwugbenu admonished that the dialogue should be used to discuss the future of Edo State and strategies for fostering an environment of transparency, collaboration and mutual respect.
“Today, we gather not only to discuss the future of EDO State but to foster an environment of transparency, collaboration, and mutual respect. This dialogue represents a vital opportunity for our candidates to share their visions and for the community to engage in meaningful discussions”.
While urging the candidates and their political parties to seek peace ahead the election, Akubeze noted that peace is not is just the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice, understanding and goodwill.
“As we engage in these important conversations, the Catholic Church also calls for peace as we approach the elections. We emphasize that peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice, understanding, and goodwill. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that this electoral process is marked by civility and respect.Let us remember that every citizen’s voice counts, and we must create a safe space for everyone to express their views. We encourage all candidates and supporters to engage in peaceful dialogue and to reject any form of violence or intimidation.
“Together, let us commit to a peaceful election period—one that reflects our shared values and strengthens the fabric of our community. Let us embark on this important journey together, united in our commitment to peace and democracy”.
Welcoming participants earlier, the Executive Director of ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor pointed out that the dialogue is meant for civil society actors to interact with the governorship candidates and also give the candidates opportunity to sell their manifestos to members of civil societies as they’re also voters.
Ugolor who noted that an interactive session was also held with the contestants in the 2020 governorship election expressed dismay over some violent incidents that have trailed the electioneering and called for caution among the political gladiators.
While setting the rules for the interaction, Ugolor urged members of civil societies to ask only questions they have evidence about and avoid issues bordering on hear say and shun fowl language.
In a good will message, the chairman of Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Festus Alenkhe urged politicians, political parties and their candidates to play by the rules of the game adding that there’s no need to kill ourselves because of election.
Alenkhe pointed out that whichever way the election goes is news for the media, stressing that even violence and other negative behaviours on election day are news for the media.
The chairman of the Conference of Non-governmental Organisations (CONGOS), Comrade Bathlomeuw Okoudo appealed to politicians to play down on the things that will lead to violence, regretting that some of their activities and utterances have led to violence.
While appealing to who ever wins the election to carry the civil society community along in the governance process as they have a lot to contribute to the enthronement of good governance, Okoudo urged the candidates to make their campaigns issues based.
It was a moment of truth for the candidates and representatives of the participating political parties as they all agreed that there were a lot of good policies and programmes in the out going government of Governor Godwin Obaseki, pledging that such programmes will be retained and strengthened.
The political parties and their representatives were drilled on how they’ll handle education, health, environment, infrastructural facilities, sustaineance of prompt payment of salaries and pensions, the independence of the Edo State Independent National Electoral Commission (EDSIEC), rule of law, separation of power, gender and social inclusion, war against corruption and other issues relevant to the enthronement of good governance.
Present at the interactive session were the candidates of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNDP), Pastor Azemhe Azena, Africa Alliance Congress, Oberaifoh Udoh, Dr. Bright Enabulele, the Deputy Governorship candidate of Accord Party and Dr. Washington Osifoh who represented the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Monday Okpebholo.